Well Triple J certainly know how to set a massive challenge, trying to select a top ten from the last 10 years has been difficult as there is a veritable smorgasbord of amazing songs to choose from. It’s hard enough coming up with a top ten for a single year so to do it for a decade has been next level. However, the challenge has been one that I have relished and thoroughly enjoyed. it has inspired me to reflect and reminisce on some great gigs, albums, songs and events in my life. Over the last few weeks I have listened to many albums from the 2010’s, some of which I haven’t for a few years and I’ve really enjoyed reacquainting myself to them.

When faced with the task of choosing a top ten from the 2010’s I decided I needed some rules to help the process, I initially started out thinking that I would choose one song from each year … that would be easy enough I thought. However as I embarked on this I found that this approach would not deliver a top ten that really reflected my favourite and most influential songs from the 2010’s. I only got to 2011 and had to choose from albums from The Herd, The Last Kinection, Simplex, Thundamentals, Bias B and Reason so this process started getting very difficult very quickly.

I was listening to Sally and Ericka a few weeks back and they were talking about strategies for selecting a top ten. One of their suggestions was picking your 10 most influential or favourite artists from the 2010’s and choosing a song from each. This seemed a much more fairer approach, albeit still very difficult, and I thought it might result in a much more representative selection of my favourite songs from the decade. It also aligns with the rule I have followed for the last two years for the Hottest 100 whereby I haven’t chosen more than one song per artist or album.

I should say at this point with regard to my music I tend to think in terms of albums which makes the task of selecting favourite songs even tougher as I love the experience of listening to an album and for me, consistency of the quality of the tracks makes a great album. There are many albums that I love and to select a favourite track has been a challenge which has been multiplied by some of my favourite artists releasing several albums during the decade.

From a gig point of view the 2010’s have brought many highlights. There are the Elefant Traks birthday gigs celebrating their 15th, 18th and 20th birthdays, they were all awesome. I got to see Public Enemy at HQ in 2014, I’ve been a massive fan of theirs since I was 15. I saw Midnight Oil play twice, in Adelaide and Sydney, during their The Great Circle Tour in 2017, I’ve been a fan of theirs since I was 13. I’ve had the privilege to see many of my heroes play live over the last 10 years. In particular my favourite band, The Herd, who I saw on at least 8 occasions, including 3 times in 2018.  As far as music festivals go my favourite is Womad and I attended it every year during the 2010’s and I’m looking forward to enjoying Womad again this coming weekend.

Personally the highlight of the 2010’s was my great fortune to have the opportunity to travel and visit many amazing countries. My first trip in 2010 had me travelling to the Netherlands, Ireland and England. The greatest memory of this trip was celebrating my birthday in Amsterdam, my favourite city in the world. In 2013 I visited Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand and in 2014 I travelled back to the Netherlands and also visited Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican City, Monaco, France and the UAE. The highlight of that trip was celebrating my Tante Marie’s 100^th birthday in Enkhuizen. In 2016 I took a cruise from Fremantle to Singapore visiting Lombok, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi and Phuket along the way. In 2017 it was back to the Netherlands as well as Scandinavia touring through Denmark, Norway and Sweden. And finally in late 2019 I experienced a European winter exploring the Netherlands, Iceland and Central Europe visiting Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Berlin. I feel totally blessed and grateful to have had these opportunities and I have learned so much during my travels.

Anyway, I digress, back to the top ten … so without further ado here’s my top ten for the 2010’s.

1. The Herd – ‘The Sum of it All’ from the album ‘Future Shade’ (2011)

Even though The Herd only released one album and an EP during the 2010’s they have remained the most influential band for me in that time, they would have also held this title for the 2000’s as well.

I was privileged to see The Herd play several times over the last 10 years. I recall seeing them at Womad, at the Gov, at the three Elefant Traks Birthday celebration gigs in 2013, 2016 and 2018, at the Enmore Theatre supporting Yothu Yindi and the Treaty Project in 2018, at the Queenscliff Music Festival and most recently out the front of the SA Art Gallery in North Terrace in 2019 for the opening of the Ben Quilty exhibition.

As I have to choose a favourite track I got it down to two songs from the ‘Future Shade’ Album, they are ‘A Thousand Lives’ and “The Sum of it All’. A Thousand Lives is a song that teaches us that life is to be lived, to learn from our experiences and don’t change a thing, to have no regrets, it is as it is. However, for my top ten I have picked The Sum of it All as my number 1 song. The song makes me reflect on my life and the decisions and choices I have made be they good or bad. The chorus says it all …

What is the trade off in your life

What did you pay? What is the price?

What did you weight it up against?

Was it worth it?

 

You compromise to much that you

Forgot what you want

You are the sum of it all

Is that what you want

2. The Last Kinection – ‘Millions of People’ from the album ‘Next of Kin’ (2011)

The Last Kinection has been on high rotation for me throughout the 2010’s. They released their second album’ Next of Kin’ in 2011 which followed up ‘Nutches’, released in 2008.

I saw them play 4 times during the 2010’s and have loved every gig. So many of their songs mean so much to me and provide a great insight into the perspective and challenges of our indigenous brothers and sisters. The inspiration of the Wenitong family (Joel and Nay Wenitong are members of The Last Kinection) was highlighted on Australian Story a few years back. I will always be thankful for Joel who took time to chat to me after a gig in Adelaide, we chatted for ages and I appreciated him giving me his time.

Every song on ‘Next of Kin’ is a banger so it is was hard to select a favourite. It was really hard to split songs like; Are We There Yet? (featuring Simone Stacey), Happy People, Small Stuff, The Strong Remain (featuring Impossible Odds) and Together.

But I have landed on Millions of People, it resonates with much of my own negative self-talk and feelings of isolation but also inspires me to remember I am not alone.

3. Horrorshow – ‘Free’ from the album ‘King Amongst Many’ (2013)

Horrorshow released 3 of their 5 albums during the 2010’s; King Amongst Many (2013), Bardo State (2017) and New Normal (2019). In addition they released two live albums, Live at the Spiegeltent (2013) and Live from the Listen Close Tour (2015).

I’ve seen Horrorshow play live many times during the 2010’s, maybe more than anyone else, so I have a plethora of great songs and memories to draw upon from them. Not only have they created songs that are filled with energy and get you jumping they have also played gigs for hip hop to sit down to which have been a great contrast.

Horrorshow have featured regularly in my top 10s throughout the 2010’s. I can only recall my top ten’s back to 2015 but since then the following songs have made my top 10; ‘Any other Name’ (2015), Right Here (featuring B Wise & Omar Musa) and Push (2016), Eat the Cake (2017) and New Normal (2019).

I could pick any of at least a dozen songs from Horrorshow, they have released many bangers over the last 10 years however I have eventually decided on Free, from the album King Amongst Many, I love the following verses from this song …

True kings don’t demand respect, they command it

And inspire when all hope has been abandoned

But all I ever want to do is sit on the couch

Twist my worries in a spliff and blow em into the clouds

…

I can see it all from here

I don’t know what’s holding me back

Vision blurred but I’m seeing so clear

I wonder if I missed my chance

I can see it all from right here

And I gotta push through it

I’m living for the one day whatever may come

I wanna see it done so I’ll be the one to do it

And the chorus which goes …

So when you’re looking in the mirror what you gonna see

Is it who you are

Who you pretend to be

Facing off with your own worse enemy

The same as it’s always been, you’ve gotta set yourself free

4. L-Fresh the Lion – ‘The Heart, The Pen’ from the album ‘One’ (2014)

L-Fresh the Lion has fast become one of my favourite artists ever since I first heard his debut album ‘One’ in 2014, he followed this album up with ‘Become’ in 2016. I am expecting there may be a third album in 2020, fingers crossed. L’s live show has an amazing energy, when thinking of his shows I also have to mention Mirrah, she supports L and brings so much energy to the stage, she is an amazing performer and is an amazing artist in her own right, she could easily have made my top ten. The energy of L-Fresh the Lion is best encapsulated by his song 1 in 100,000, its guaranteed to get you jumping.

I have many favourite L-Fresh the Lion tracks but the one I have chosen for my top ten is The Heart, The Pen. It’s from his debut album, ‘One’. I have chosen this song simply for its lyrics which resonate with me deeply and align with my own ambitions to write. The following verses inspire me greatly …

My life begins and ends with these sentences

The pen is my witness, it tempts me with its relentlessness

And it guides me to where the essence is

Inside, it invites me to release these messages

…

Eloquence, reverence and benevolence

No segregation of individual residents

I wonder what that would be like, that’s why I write

To bring my imagination to life

…

Burn wordly love

Rub the ashes and make ink of it

Make the heart the pen; the intellect the writer

Write that which has no end or limit

5. Thundamentals – ‘Got Love’ from the album ‘So We Can Remember’ (2014)

Thundamentals was one of the more prolific of my favourite artists for the 2010’s, releasing four albums. There was Foreverlution (2011), So We Can Remember (2014), Everyone We Know (2017) and I Love Songs (2018). Every album has many great songs. I really loved the concept of the I Love Songs album, explained by Tuka like this; “Everyone knows how f**ked we are politically, and Thundamentals have been banging on about it for ten years. We just wanted to write love songs instead, ones that would actually make people feel calm and connect with people around them.” My favourite song from this album as voted for in 2018 was I Miss You.

But my favourite from Thundamentals is Got Love (featuring Solo).  It’s a very positive track with some cracking verses such as this from Jeswon…

A big-it-up for my fellow man, who gives a damn
If you’re black, white, or yellow man, I’mma keep it mellow man
Ain’t about the melanin and I believe in
The phrase “stand for something or you might fall for anything”
So find me standing on my own two feet
Put my feet in your shoes, am I going to deep?
You can walk a mile in my boots, I could do the same thing
And see how life is for you, that’s true and
Can you imagine a world without borders?
I can imagine my girl with two daughters
What would you do to keep your family free?
Way I see it we’re apart of one family tree

6. Jane Tyrrell – ‘Echoes in the Aviary’ from the album ‘Echoes in the Aviary’ (2014)

Jane is a member of The Herd and released her debut solo album, ‘Echoes in the Aviary’ in 2014. She has also collaborated with many of my favourite hip hop artists including; Urthboy, Tuka and Horrorshow. I love her voice and I’ve enjoyed seeing her perform with The Herd and Urthboy as well as her solo gig at the Elefant Traks 15th birthday celebration.

‘Echoes in the Aviary’ has really been my soundtrack for bedtime for the past 6 years and is possibly one of the most played albums for me from the decade. I really love the album and there is really no standout track for me so I have chosen the title track Echoes in the Aviary for my top ten.

7. Jimblah – ‘Black Life Matters’ (2019)

I believe Jimblah is an important artist and I am always keen to read and hear his thoughts. Similar to the Last Kinection his music provides a great insight of an indigenous perspective on society and I really enjoy his music.

Jimblah released two albums in the 2010’s; Face the Fire (2012) and Phoenix (2013). He and Goji also recently joined forces to embark on a new creative project known as Homeward Bound, releasing their first album ‘Whatever You Do Don’t Panic’ in 2019.

I have stepped a bit outside my selection process for Jimblah as I haven’t picked a song from one of his albums but have chosen Black Life Matters. Jimblah teamed up with Ellie May for this song which was written in just two days and was born out of the grief and sadness following the shooting of Kumanjayi Walker. It contains the message that enough is enough and it is time to treat our indigenous people with the respect and dignity they deserve. Jimblah said this about the song, “Black Life Matters is in response to the constant downplaying of First nations reality, the lack of truth on the matter, the constant disingenuous narratives that are centred around ensuring Non-Indigenous Australians feel comfortable with the continued dispossession of First Nations People from our Lands, and to the reality that genocide is in full swing, yet it’s just another normal day in Australia.”

I think ‘Black Life Matters’ is one of the most important Australian songs to be released in the 2010’s and that’s why I chose it as my number one song in 2019.

Jimblah and Ellie May recently performed this song as their Like a Version original, music video found here. Jimblahs cover of Marvin Gaye Whats Going On, which he performed as his Like a Version cover is already a strong contender for my top ten for 2020.   

8. Joyride – ‘Blue Batmans’ from the album ‘Sunrise Chaser’ (2018)

I think it was in 2011 that I went to see Funkoars at HQ, The Tongue was supporting them that night but my greatest memory from that gig was seeing Joyride perform for the first time. He was DJ’ing for The Tongue, immediately you were drawn to him, his stage presence was amazing and you found yourself watching him instead of The Tongue. I have been a massive fan of Joyride ever since, he has collaborated with many of my other favourite artists such as Bias B, Mr Grevis, Horrorshow, The Tongue and many others, he is also a member of the One Day Crew.

I was excited when Joyride eventually released his first solo album in 2018 and it’s been on high rotation ever since. I voted for Aunty Tracey’s Cookies in 2017 and for 6am in 2018 but I have chosen Blue Batmans as my favourite for the decade, this song just makes me smile and inspires me to reminisce on fun times, and I absolutely love the music video, it’s a cracker.

9. Jess Harlen – ‘Nobody’s Fault’ from the album ‘Park Yard Slang’ (2012)

I was buying some CDs in 2010 and came across Jess’ debut album, Neon Heartache. I assumed she was a new female rapper as I found the album in the Obese Records online store. Anyway, I have since learnt that Jess is a soul artist and I am very glad to say that I am now a bit of a fan. Jess has become one of my favourite artists since purchasing that album. She followed up Neon Heartache with her second album, Park Yard Slang in 2012.

I love to listen to Jess at any time but her music has been especially therapeutic for me when I’ve been feeling down and sad. There is something about her music and voice that soothes and heals me.

Both albums are just so consistent and remind me of why I love listening to albums so much, it’s really hard to choose a favourite song from them. I thought of choosing Watch the Water as it’s got a reggae type vibe, I considered Mama, was close to picking Beautiful Struggle, Let You Down was extremely close, but I finally decided on Nobody’s Fault. They are all great songs and I just love Jess’ music. Unfortunately she has recently had a serious accident so I send her all my love and all the best for her recovery.

10. Mr Grevis – ‘So Beautiful’ (featuring Joyride & Ness) from the album ‘My Escape’ (2013)

So Beautiful is one of my ‘favouritest’ songs and is a great song to round out my top ten. It is so positive and a song that always gets me in a good mood. Grevis released three albums in the 2010’s; The Sampler (2012), My Escape (2013) and Game Over (2017), which was his swan song as he is no longer producing music. Mr Grevis released some great songs during the 2010’s, some moving, some a lot of fun and others brutally honest, it is this honesty which draws me to Aussie Hip Hop.

So that’s my top ten for the 2010’s …. But there’s more …..

The Top 11-20

In true Triple J tradition I thought I’d do a list for the 10 that didn’t make it. There is some absolute gold amongst these songs and some are very unlucky not to be in my top 10. Selecting my next 10 favourite songs and artists wasn’t an easy task and some great artists from this decade have missed out altogether, including the likes of; Bias B, Astronomy Class, Ozi Batla, Jack Johnson, Tones and I (who I think will feature highly in the coming decade given the amazing 2019 she has just enjoyed), Billy Eilish (ditto comment for Tones and I), John Butler, Rapaport, Gurrumul, Nick Cave, Mirrah, Thelma Plum and Okenyo. I just couldn’t fit everyone in.

So, for what it’s worth, here is my top 11 to 20 …

11. Reason – ‘Kosher’ from the album ‘Window of Time’ (2011)

It’s so hard to leave Reason out of my top 10, he is one of my favourite ever MC’s. He would have been in my top 2 (only behind The Herd) for the 2000’s. Reason released ‘Window of Time’ in 2011, this was his fourth album but also his last, the album containing several farewell songs. There are some great songs on this album; Backyard (featuring Hunter & Rapaport), Window of Time, ‘I Want… (featuring Suffa)’, Dedicate and Final Siren but I have chosen Kosher as my favourite from the album.

12. Seth Sentry – ‘My Scene’ from the album ‘This Was Tomorrow’ (2012)

The first Seth Sentry song I heard was The Waitress Song from The Waiter Minute EP (2012). He followed up this EP with his debut album, This was Tomorrow (2012) and later released Strange New Past (2015). I’ve had the privilege to be able to see Seth perform many times over the last few years. He is a favourite artist and his live shows are always a lot of fun.

My favourite track from Seth is My Scene. I can relate to this song as I’ve never really been part of a group or scene, I’ve always tended to float around and can be comfortable in the company of a diverse array of people as well as myself, I am a bit of a loner at heart. Here’s my favourite verse from the song …

I must have tried at least a hundred different scenes but I aint never

Found one that’s really me, nah

Maybe I’m a weirdo or maybe they’re the weird ones or maybe I don’t

Really even need one, but I’m still…

I’m still trying to find my scene, What’s my Scene?

It’s the hardest thing to do, to look like them but feel like you.

13. Hilltop Hoods – ‘Be Yourself’ featuring Ecca Vandal and Nyassa from the album ‘The Great Expanse’ (2019)

The Hoods released four albums in the 2010’s; Drinking from the Sun (2012), Walking Under Stars (2014), Drinking from the Sun/Walking Under Stars Restrung (2016) and The Great Expanse (2019).  In my opinion their latest album is probably their best, these guys just keep upping the ante for Aussie Hip Hop. If I had to pick a favourite album from 2019 then this would have been it.

It is from this album that I have chosen Be Yourself which features Ecca Vandal and Nyassa. This is a positive and uplifting song and one of the many excellent tracks on this album. It includes some great lyrics/verses including …

Feeling good, in fact I’m feeling mighty fine

Another year, another grind, another smile line

Dead star type of light shine, why you taking up my time

If you aint of a like mind

Forget what you and who say

It’s the future that moves my mood today

I could be toothless and grey, lose my toupee

And still feel bullet proof like Luke Cage

I’ve never been concerned with a beef

Just learning to be the best version of me

They say that we can learn from defeat

Why are they looking for adversity permanently?

They’re missing the mark, still in a rut

Need a little bit of dip in their strut, living it up

The enlightened feeling of not giving a fuck

While they’re putting me down I’ve been picking it up

 

Don’t let no one tell you who you are, be yourself 

14. Bliss N Eso – ‘Addicted’ from the album ‘Running on Air’ (2010)

Bliss N Eso were one band I haven’t listened to very often in recent years so it has been great to reacquaint myself with their albums from the 2010’s. They released ‘Running on Air’ (2010), “Circus in the Sky’ (2013) and ‘Off the Grid’ (2017) during the decade and these albums include many bangers. Some of my favourite songs include; Reflections, Home Is Where The Heart Is, My Life (featuring Ceekay Jones) and Act Your Age which reminds me I still feel like a 21 year old (although physically sometimes I feel 70, Ha!).

But my favourite Bliss N Eso track from the 2010’s is Addicted. The chorus from the song sums it up for me …

Who are you to tell me how to live my life, cuz I won’t give this up

These are my shoes, my view, my cue, to say I do give a fuck

And pretty soon I’m a’bloom and it’ll be alright

Everyday’s another chance to ignite

Cuz I’m addicted, I’m addicted, I’m addicted to this universal feeling called life

It’s a motivating and uplifting song and one that I listened to often in the first half of the decade. 

15. Omar Musa – ‘Since Ali Died’ from the album ‘Since Ali Died’ (2018)

Omar is one of my favourite artists, author and poet. Since Ali Died is a very personal song depicting the influence Mohammed Ali has had on him as a role model during his life. It’s a very moving song and ends with the following verse …

You know that Mohammed Ali made the shortest poem in the English language

It simply reads; Me We.

And that’s where the alchemy is

That briefly allows us to see the truth

That’s what art is

A filament in the darkness connecting me to you

Me We.  

16. Paul Kelly – ‘A Bastard Like Me’ from the album ‘Nature’ (2018)

I heard Paul Kelly referred to as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) by one of the announcers on Triple J, and I totally agree, although I could mount a strong argument for Nick Cave to have the same moniker. Paul Kelly has been a prolific songwriter for 40 years and just keeps getting better and better. He released 7 studio albums in the 2010’s to follow up his 18 albums from before that. There are many tracks to choose from but I’ve settled on A Bastard Like Me. It is a song based on the life and times of Charles Perkins who wrote a book called A Bastard Like Me which Paul thought would be a great title for a song. It is another quintessential Aussie ballad by Paul Kelly.

Call me a stray or a dog every day

Call me a mongrel half breed

Mongrels are strong, so if you take me on

Watch out for a bastard like me …

 … Everyday in the lucky country

Ive taken my licks, Ive kicked against the pricks

Oh try and stop a bastard like me. 

17. Aurora – ‘The Seed’ from the album ‘A Different Kind of Human’ (2019)

I first heard Aurora perform when she did her Like a Version set early in 2019. I was immediately captivated by this quirky, unique and talented artist from Norway. She is the only non-Australian artist to make my top 20.

Her debut album, ‘All my Demons Greeting Me as a Friend’ (2016) contains several tracks that I love, including; The Warrior, Running with the Wolves and Conqueror. Her second album, ‘A Different Kind of Human’ (2019) also contains some great tracks; such as The River, which is about how we hold back our emotions because its seen as weak but that we should allow our emotions to show as that is what makes us human, Animal which is about searching for love and the sensuality of nature and Daydreamer which says people should be daydreamers and not one dimensional people with little contact with the world or their true selves.

My favourite track from Aurora is The Seed, which I first heard her play as part of her Like a Version set. This powerful track is about the destruction of the natural world by humans and the destruction we are causing in the pursuit of money and greed.

According to Aurora, ‘It’s an environmental song, because I love mother earth and I think we’re in such an exciting time now, where people are really starting to act on her behalf … its inspired by a Native American poem and the idea that only when we lost everything we will realise that we can’t eat money. So that became the catchphrase of the whole thing.” 

Now more than ever we need to heed to the need to see ourselves as a part of nature and not competing with her. 

18. Joelistics- ‘Not in my Name’ from the album ‘Blue Volume’ (2014)

Not in my Name is from Joelistics third album, Blue Volume (2014), this album includes some absolute bangers but my favourite is ‘Not in my Name’. It’s a very moving song and doesn’t make me feel good about our country as it hits the mark for me with regard to our inhumane treatment of refugees. Its lyrics encapsulate much of what I was feeling during the 2010’s, here are a few verses …

Lately I’ve been losing all my faith in humanity

And to think I am part of it is embarrassing

I read the paper and I keep up with the news

I can’t recognise what we do is even human

It’s out of wack, out of balance, out of control

The lies told and the attitudes that unfold

This fucking country has a rotten bitter hard soul

And this …

Its not enough to turn back a bunch of leaky boats

It’s not enough that we kill their dreams then we kill their hope

It’s not enough to deprive them of their human rights

It’s not enough until someone loses their life

Dark shadows gather history will judge us harsh

One day you’ll ask yourself “Did I do enough?”

And how much cruelty did we allow to be dealt

To a group of desperate people asking for help

Joelistics also released two other albums in the 2010’s, Voyager (2011) and The Shining (2012). 

19. Urthboy – ‘Letters from Jamshed’ from the album ‘Live at the City Recital Hall’ (2013)

Letters from Jamshed is a beautifully put together song and should be listened to by everyone as it provides a human voice to the effects of our refugee policies which are the epitome of evil to me.

The song was originally released on The Key of Sea (2010) which is an album that explores different perspectives on the political debate on refugees and asylum seekers. It is a musical collaboration between artists and identifies how valuable all cultures are to Australian society.

I love the concept of the song whereby Urthboy took extracts from letters between his sister and Jamshed and turned it into a song. His sister participated in a pen pal program with asylum seekers which is such a cool thing to do and it’s great these letters inspired this song. 

20. Baker Boy – ‘Marryuna’ (2017)

 It was so hard not to have Baker Boy in my top 10. Whilst Baker Boy has released some of my favourite ever songs during the 2010’s he is yet to release an album and this is probably why I couldn’t get him in the top 10. I have made him the last song I want to recognise from the 2010’s for two reasons, one, this song is bound to bring a smile as it is so much fun which is great segue from the seriousness of my last two selections from Joelistics and Urthboy, and two, I feel Baker Boy will be one of the most inspiring and important artists for the coming decade, he has already made a huge impact (being recognised as the Young Australian of the Year in 2019) and I can only see amazing things from him in the coming decade so this is a pick with one eye looking to the future.

I first saw Baker Boy play live at the Enmore Theatre in 2018. He was one of the support acts, along with The Herd, for Yothu Yindi and the Treaty Project. I then saw him play two gigs at Womad in March later that year.

Mr La Di Da Di was my number 1 song for 2018, Cool as Hell made my top ten in 2019 while Cloud 9 and Marryuna made my top ten in 2017. I’ve chosen Marryuna as my favourite Baker Boy track, it’s just a fun song and I love the music video.

Well that’s that for another decade, many thanks to Triple J for inspiring me to delve into my favourite songs, albums and artists from the 2010’s. It’s been fun thinking back and reminiscing on what was a great decade of music and I am looking forward to the 14th March and listening to the Hottest 100 for the decade.

I am now looking ahead to the 2020’s, looking forward to hearing what my favourite artists will produce in the coming years and even more excited for the unknown, what new artists will emerge that are yet to impact my life?

When I think of music and its impact on me I feel it is probably best encapsulated by this quote from Leonard Cohen …

“Music is like bread. It is one of the fundamental nourishments that we have available”

Thank you to Triple J for exposing me to new music and thank you to all the amazing artists who nourish my soul.

My Top 10 songs of the 2010’s

1. The Herd – ‘The Sum of it All’ (2011)
2. The Last Kinection – ‘Millions of People’ (2011)
3. Horrorshow – ‘Free’ (2013)
4. L-Fresh the Lion – ‘The Heart, The Pen’ (2014)
5. Thundamentals – ‘Got Love’ (2014)
6. Jane Tyrrell – ‘Echoes in the Aviary’ (2014)
7. Jimblah – ‘Black Life Matters’ (2019)
8. Joyride – ‘Blue Batmans’ (2018)
9. Jess Harlen – ‘Nobodys Fault’ (2012)
10. Mr Grevis – ‘So Beautiful’ featuring Joyride & Ness (2013)

My Top 11-20 songs of the 2010’s

11. Reason – ‘Kosher’ (2011)
12. Seth Sentry – ‘My Scene’ (2012)
13. Hilltop Hoods – ‘Be Yourself’ (2019)
14. Bliss n Eso – ‘Addicted’ (2010)
15. Omar Musa – ‘Since Ali Died’ (2018)
16. Paul Kelly – ‘A Bastard Like Me’ (2018)
17. Aurora – ‘The Seed’ (2019)
18. Joelistics- ‘Not in my Name’ (2014)
19. Urthboy – ‘Letters from Jamshed’ (2013)
20. Baker Boy – ‘Marryuna’ (2017)

 What would have been my top ten had I chosen one song from each year …

1. Bliss N Eso – ‘Addicted’ (2010)
2. The Herd – ‘The Sum of it All’ (2011)
3. Jess Harlen – ‘Nobody’s Fault’ (2012)
4. Mr Grevis – ‘So Beautiful’ featuring Joyride & Ness (2013)
5. Thundamentals – ‘Got Love’ (2014)
6. Briggs – The Children Came Back (2015)
7. AB Original – January 26 (2016)
8. Baker Boy – ‘Marryuna’ (2017)
9. Baker Boy – ‘Mr La Di Da Di’ (2018)
10. Jimblah & Ellie May – ‘Black Life Matters’ (2019)My top ten for the 2000’s

My top ten for the 2000’s

1. The Herd – Scallops, from the album ‘The Herd’ (2001)
2. Reason – True Aussie Icon, from the album ‘ One Step Ahead’ (2004)
3. John Butler Trio – Believe, from the album ‘Three’ (2001)
4. Jack Johnson – People Watching, from the album ‘Sing a-Longs and Lullabies for the film Curious George’ (2006)
5. Matty B – Fridays, from the album ‘The Courageous LP’ (2002)
6. Pegz – Back Then, from the album ‘Axis (2005)
7. Bias B – Now Your Gone, from the album ‘Been There Done That’ (2007)
8. Hilltop Hoods – Testimonial Year, from the album ‘The Calling’ (2003)
9. Hunter – Going Back To Yokine, from the album ‘Going Back To Yokine’ (2006)
10. Bliss n Eso – Happy in my Hoody, from the album ‘Flying Circus’ (2008)

My top 10 for the 1990’s

1. Rollins Band – Low Self Opinion, from the album ‘The End of Silence’ (1992)
2. Offspring – Self Esteem, from the album ‘Smash’ (1994)
3. Janes Addiction – Been Caught Stealing, from the album ‘Ritual De Lo Habitual’ (1990)
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under The Bridge, from the album ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’ (1991)
5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – The Ship Song, from the album ‘Good Son’ (1990)
6. Powderfinger – Pick You Up ‘Pick You Up’ from the album ‘Double Allergic’ (1996)
7. Green Day – Good Riddance, from the album ‘Nimrod’ (1997)
8. Metallica – Nothing Else Matters, from the Black Album (1991)
9. Public Enemy – Can’t Truss It, from the album ‘Apocalypse 91 – The Enemy Strikes Black’ (1991)
10. Def Wish Cast – A.U.S.T., from the album ‘ Knights of the Underground Table’ (1993)

My top 10 for the 1980’s

1. Public Enemy – Fight The Power, from the soundtrack for the movie, ‘Do The Right Thing’ and the album ‘Fear of a Black Planet’ (1989)
2. Public Enemy – Bring the Noise, from the album ‘It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back’ (1988)
3. Midnight Oil – US Forces, from the album ‘10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1’ (1982)
4. NWA – Express Yourself, from the album ‘Straight Outta Compton’ (1988)
5. Pseudo Echo – Funky Town, from the album ‘Love an Adventure’ (1985)
6. Paul Hardcastle – 19, from the album ‘Paul Hardcastle’ (1985)
7. Howard Jones – Like to Get to Know You Well, from the ’12” Album’ (1984)
8. Redgum – I Was Only 19 or ‘A walk in the light green’, from the album ‘Caught in the Act’ (1983)
9. Madness – House Of Fun, from the album ‘ Complete Madness’ (1982)
10. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message, from the album ‘The Message’ (1982)